Green Car, Black Eye: Toyota Prius Recall Targets Potentially Deadly Brake Issue

by Steph Willems

October 13th, 2016 9:23 AM

green car black eye toyota prius recall targets potentially deadly brake issue

Toyota shoehorned a lot of cutting-edge technology into the current-generation Prius, but the fuel-sipping vehicle has a low-tech Achilles Heel.

The automaker is recalling 340,000 2016 and 2017 Prius models to fix a potentially deadly parking brake problem, the Associated Press reports (via USA Today). In the Prius, it could lead to “sudden acceleration” of a different kind.

The automaker claims that the vehicle’s parking brake could become inoperative over time.

“If this occurs and the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in a gear other than ‘Park’ while the ignition is on, the vehicle could roll away, increasing the risk of a crash,” the automaker said in a statement yesterday.

The Prius uses a monostable shift toggle, not unlike Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ now defunct ( and notorious) unit. To engage “park,” the driver must press a button located near the shifter. Confusion sometimes reigns when dealing with these shifters, meaning a manual parking brake acts as a failsafe to stop rollaway accidents.

According to the initial AP report, the automaker has “received reports of crashes, injuries and deaths” as a result of faulty parking brakes. Toyota claimed it was looking into the reports. That story has since changed, with AP now reporting that Toyota has updated its official statement. The automaker now claims it isn’t aware of any reports of accidents linked to the fault “as of Oct. 3, 2016.”

Make of that what you will.

The majority of the recalled Prius models are in Japan. Toyota sold a further 94,000 vehicles to North American customers. In a post on its website, Toyota outlined the proposed fix.

“Toyota dealers will add clips on the top of the brake cable dust boots to prevent the cable from becoming inoperative at no cost to customers,” the automaker said, adding, “All known owners of the involved vehicles will be notified by first class mail starting in November.”

[Image: Toyota Motor Corporation]

#Hybrids #Recall #Safety #Toyota #ToyotaPrius

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5 of 31 comments

05lgt on Oct 13, 2016

Can we just agree not to use that photo any more? there are other, less telling angles. We know it's unacceptably ugly and it's sales are suffering. they need to recall those tail lights. Maybe put a bag over them or something in a TSB. I was looking forward to lunch, now? not so much.

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- Ttacgreg on Oct 13, 2016
  
  LOL good snark! I am actually learning to like it.
  
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- Lou_BC on Oct 13, 2016
  
  @ttacgreg Snark or the Prius tail lights?
  
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- Ttacgreg on Oct 13, 2016
  
  @Lou_BC Both in fact.
  
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VoGo on Oct 13, 2016

I don't understand why anyone would by the standard Prius. The Prius Prime is better looking, gets better mileage as a plug-in, AND it's cheaper after tax. Please note that I only said that the Prius Prime was better looking than the Prius. That's a low bar.

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